Yarmouth Preview: Scooby can do the business

Captain Scooby looked an unlucky loser last time out and can take advantage of a career-low mark to gain compensation in the 5f handicap at Yarmouth this evening (5.40).

The Richard Guest trained gelding was forced to switch a furlong from home when denied a clear run, before storming home to be beaten just a length into third behind My Meteor in a 15-runner affair at Carlisle nine days ago.

The eight-year-old finished with plenty of running left in him, and it was an effort which suggested he was ready to go in again.
Although Captain Scooby is on long losing run having not scored since landing a 5f contest at Redcar back in April 2013, that win came off a mark of 69 and the son of Captain Rio is now able to race off 20lb lower.

That makes Captain Rio dangerously well-treated, and this weak looking class 6 contest represents a glorious opportunity for Captain Scooby to score an overdue success.
Ski Lift makes her handicap debut in the 1m 1f contest (7.10) and could well have got in lightly.

The John Gosden trained filly ha only had three starts, and ran a blinder on debut when staying on from well off the pace to finish a never nearer 5 1/4 length fourth to Evita Peron.

The winner has since gone on to land a Listed contest at Newmarket and is now rated 103, and that makes Ski Lift’s opening mark of just 71 look very expolitable.

Although Ski Lift has failed to build on that effort, the daughter of Pivotal wasn’t disgraced last time out when fourth in a Newmarket maiden and it would be no surprise to see take off now going handicapping.

In the 7f handicap that closes proceedings (8.10), Venus Marina can notch a first career success now dropped in trip.

The filly is trained by Chris Wall, who has a near 30% strike rate with his runners at the track in the past 12 months, and has shown improved form since going handicapping.

The daughter of Tiger Hill particularly caught the eye on her latest start over a mile at Kempton when racing keenly at the head of affairs before weakening at the furlong marker to finish a a 9 1/4 length fourth of 11 to Plough Boy.